You know the ones we’re talking about, dinner jackets and ‘fashion blazers’ made up of obnoxious color combinations, or tuxedos in shiny cerulean. They’re flashy and distracting. Instead, embrace the elegance and simplicity of black and white (or even grey!), and instead, try using color as an accent in a more intentional way.

While at first, it may seem more cost efficient to rent a suit or tux for the night, you’ll soon realize it eventually pays for itself. This is especially true if you choose something more versatile that can be transformed by pairing it with different shirts, shoes, and accessories. You’ll then be able to get many uses out of the same suit for a variety of occasions!

You don’t want to get too crazy here, but there are plenty of accessories to take your pick from like: suspenders, pocket squares, vests, cummerbunds, and of course cufflinks! Select your favorites to complete your ensemble.

There’s nothing wrong with a little coordination between dates, but you don’t want to overdo it here. If your date is wearing a green dress, a grey and green striped tie or white and green boutonniere pinned to your tux is more than enough. You want to complement each other, not look like twins.